Drivers, Process, and Consequences of Native Grassland Degradation: Insights from a Literature Review and a Survey in Río de la Plata Grasslands

Abstract

Natural grasslands are being progressively degraded around the world due to human-induced action (e.g., overgrazing), but there is neither a widely accepted conceptual framework to approach degradation studies nor a clear definition of what “grassland degradation” is. Most of the drivers, processes, and consequences related to grassland degradation are widespread and are usually separately quoted in the literature. In this paper, we propose a comprehensive framework with different conceptual categories, for monitoring grassland degradation, and a new definition based on current ones. We provide a conceptual update of grassland degradation based on a literature review and an expert survey, focused on the Río de la Plata grasslands (RPG). We identified “drivers” as external forces or changes that cause degradation; “processes” as measurable changes in grasslands conditions that can be evaluated using indicators; and “consequences” as the impacts or results of the process of grassland degradation. We expect that this conceptual framework will contribute to monitoring programs, to support management decisions, to design conservation measures, and to communicate the importance of grasslands conservation and the different concepts involved. Particularly for RPG, we expect that this paper will contribute to promote sustainable management practices in this important and often neglected ecosystem.

The Content of Macro- and Micro Minerals in the Sward of Different Types of Semi-Natural Meadows of Temperate Climate in SE Poland

“…In contrast, intensive continuous grazing could lead to the dominance of the most grazing-resistant species and undesirable plant species that animals do not consume [33]. Overgrazing is the most common cause of grassland degradation [34,35]; although the complexity of this process remains unexplained, a model developed by Tiscornia et al [36] provides some hope for its elucidation. The present study determined the total content of elements in the sward, while element content for individual species was not calculated.…”

Grassland Management for Sustainable Agroecosystems

“…The review by Tiscornia et al [12] provides the background and context to the study of grassland degradation, clarifying the related drivers, processes, and consequences. This is important because grassland degradation has multi-casual drivers.…”

Quantifying Grass Coverage Trends to Identify the Hot Plots of Grassland Degradation in the Tibetan Plateau during 2000–2019

“…Grassland covers about 40% of the global land surface [ 1 ], provides vital ecosystem services [ 1 , 2 ], and plays an essential role in food security, biodiversity maintenance, and sustainable development [ 3 , 4 ]. However, during recent decades, half of the global grasslands were degraded due to anthropogenic and natural factors [ 2 , 3 , 5 ].…”

“…Grassland covers about 40% of the global land surface [ 1 ], provides vital ecosystem services [ 1 , 2 ], and plays an essential role in food security, biodiversity maintenance, and sustainable development [ 3 , 4 ]. However, during recent decades, half of the global grasslands were degraded due to anthropogenic and natural factors [ 2 , 3 , 5 ]. As one of the major rangeland regions in the world, the Tibetan Plateau (TP) was also experiencing serious grassland degradation [ 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 ], resulted in declines of productivity, biodiversity, soil carbon and nutrients, and related socio-economic functions [ 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 ].…”

“…Grassland degradation involves multiple aspects, such as grassland coverage and productivity declines, soil deterioration, and losses of dominant species [ 2 , 21 , 22 , 23 ]. Due to data limitations, the coverage decline is often used as an indicator to identify grassland degradation, since it is much more sensitive to grazing intensity and can be easily detected by remote sensing (RS) data [ 24 , 25 , 26 ].…”